Guilty! I’ve just ordered 3 🎄items

tictacnana

Made a good start. I want it all bought and wrapped by mid November.

I have never finished by then.
But partly because I dont want to finish too early, as I may lose some Christmas spirit?

Last year I went to Dubai for Christmas to stay with DD who works there. I left on the 12th of December to take advantage of the cheapest flights so had to be super organised. Never before had I written cards and my Christmas letter so early and all were posted before I left though I did email a few from Dubai. I've proved to myself that I can do it but will this year revert to the usual last minute panic.

I'm currently making an advent gift of a 24 piece nativity set in felt for my GC which needs to be completed in less than 2 weeks so I can deliver it when I visit for GS's 4th birthday at the begining of October. It's nearly finished, then I need to make more stuff for pre Christmas craft sales that are planned. Our first sale is in October so hope others are ready to buy Christmas stuff by then. Last year's sale was nearer to Christmas, but clashed with various local school events and harly anyone came - very disappointing!

Year before last we unexpectedly had Christmas at home as plans to visit my DS and family were scuppered by them getting covid, so Christmas eve was a mad attempt to buy Christmas food. though thankfully not presents as well! Hoping this year will go to plan and be calmer than previous ones.

It’s all totally unnecessary.

It’s still,September for goodness sake.

Father Christmas ordered a few 30cm lit balls for the trees. He'll need help hanging them in trees.

A project for home garden manager - moi.

😅 bought a couple of tree baubles this week whilst away on holiday. Couldn’t resist, they will be mementos of where we’ve been every year we put them on the tree (my excuse, anyway 😂). Oh, and also bought a pack of Xmas cards on sale in a church we visited. They showed a scene of the church we visited and I couldn’t resist buying them - plus the funds raised help the church, so win win.

Sorry, Greciangirl, it may be unnecessary in your book, but I will be nowhere near the places we bought these items from come December - it’s a good 3 hours travelling away, and won’t be going there in December.

I see no reason not to plan ahead, I’ve bought a few things, and will probably continue getting things as I see them.
I’ve got two grandchildren’s birthdays just before Christmas as well, so I need to be organised.
Just do what you need to do, obviously thousands of people are buying for Christmas, otherwise the shops wouldn’t start so early.

Dowsabella, your little min X-stitch house is gorgeous!

Made my 🎄mincemeat (Delia’s) this morning - all mixed up, now needs to stand overnight before going in the oven tomorrow. 6 lbs of it, should be plenty but even though I never make mince pies until 1st December or the beginning of Advent, we always seem to get through a lot - dh almost inhales them!

Haven't started yet but sister came last week and told me she's bought a case of wrapping paper and Christmas cards. She sells at carboots and online. So that's me sorted for cards and Xmas paper, wholesale price.

I was invited to my DS this year, should I be a little worried? Does he think I'll peg out soon so thought he'd better as he doesn't normally. They come to see the family up here earlier. Does it mean I have to rethink my present list, although as they get older it's money then as they get older still it's back to presents. I'll look in 'the box' and see what's lurking that I bought but didn't use last year, if anything is left. Christmas food I don't have to think about, which I actually enjoy looking for. Just me I can eat what I want. I've spent ages trying to book trains only now to find out one's been cancelled so that's taking priority as trying to use the cheaper if you book earlier option. I've turned around and it's nearly October! Help 😂

As i am a canny Scot i bought cards, wrapping, crackers and about half the gifts in the boxing day sales. I will start on the food gifts soon.

Nice! You're all set for the holidays with those three 🎄 items!

jocork, same here last year. We drove 60 miles on 🎄Eve to dd2’s house, where we were staying the night, before all spending 🎄day at dd1’s, close by.

We knew dd2 had had a cold, and at her request had brought a Covid test for her to do, ‘just in the highly unlikely case…’

We’d been there a couple of hours when she did it - positive!😱

We knew dd1 wouldn’t have been bothered, and nor TBH would we, all having had it mildly, but she’d invited some foreign friends for 🎄dinner, and 2 days later they were flying home to see elderly parents - two of whom were ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’.

So off we went to dd1, just to unload all the presents and food I’d prepared (🎄pudding, pigs in blankets, gammon, you name it) - but did retain some of it for ourselves and dd2 for 🎄 Day.

Dd1 invited us for Boxing Day leftovers instead, foreign friends having left the night before.

Sorry to hijack post but Notah where did you get that unusal Christmas bauble please?

Aber57

Sorry to hijack post but Notah where did you get that unusal Christmas bauble please?

My own Father Christmas, he ordered from Amazon.

Nice Happy Christmas.

I have just `found` the 3 unopened 1000 piece wentworth jigsaws that I stashed under my bed three years ago. They were going to be sent as presents this christmas but I just looked at the price. Might keep them, after having a dpd parcel `pinched` en route. It has made me nervous about sending anything of value

I will knit faster instead, they all love hand made socks

I bought my present to myself, ordered last january, arrived 2 months ago and now in use. A beautiful soft leather knitting bag, designed by a knitter. Tbh I need nothing else for christmas this year. DGC are all of an age when they love some money and the adults will get socks and some luxury food bits

I know I still have a couple of presents in hiding, eg neom candles but they can wait for another time

Personalised Advent Calendars ordered and delivered next day, new Christmas Cups bought, along with a beautiful manger scene.

Christmas chutney made and jars decorated, Waitrose Christmas delivery slot secured.

All go now as we have a large family.

I am Scrooge personified, but have just bought the money envelopes and token gifts and wrapping paper for grandchildren and my friend’s gift, the only one I buy.
I shall be away all December, so will leave them all before I go.
I gave up cards years ago, so no need to think about them.

Waitrose slot secured. Too many advent calendars bought because some of the first ordered were a disappointment. Too many extra cards bought. Too many new decorations bought. For 6 years I’ve been compensating for distributing the family ones between the 3 DDDs. Surely have enough now. I’ll be using places where we never used to have any. But it is Fun.

Dowsabella your x stitch house decoration is delightful.

Witzend

Cossy

Norah

Hidden the 10s of Advent Calendars away. Purchased the 2024 bauble. Purchased more inflatable tat for Santa's grotto and hold downs.

No other progress.

The trouble with me is I try to be organised but…

Sweets bought early get nibbled, ditto Christmas cake!

Presents bought early get put away in hiding, never to been seen again until 5 Christmas’ later

I once bought a very big bag of mixed nuts for dh’s stocking - he’s a great lover of nuts. Hid them away somewhere in late October - this was at least 3 Christmases ago and they’ve never come to light!
He swears blind he hadn’t found and scoffed them, and I believe him, at least partly because he can hardly ever find anything even when he’s looking for it.

Cossy,
In the mid 1990’s we had a “:Christmas dreamer”:in the kitchen , where I would put various Christmas edibles purchased along with the weekly shop.
This had been a thing over a number of years but then one year .. surprise we found that a bag of biscuits had been nibbled.. yes our Christmas stash had been found by some littles mice !
It was something that we mentioned for a long time going forward .

I find this all very overwhelming! It's the birthday season currently and I've no idea what to get for our families for Christmas. They seem to have a lot of 'stuff' already. I'm exhausted just thinking about it!!!!! Oh dear I sound really boring. I do enjoy the local Carol Service though - now that is fun

I don't usually buy presents until the middle of November because I have birthdays to deal with first. I have one Christmas present bought for dgs1. My chipolatas are ordered and dd is well organised as she is doing Christmas dinner this year. Next week I'll make the puddings and the cake and Delia's mincemeat